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The British Broadcasting Corp (BBC) will air a long lost Beatles interview featuring John Lennon and Paul McCartney talking about the day they met and their songwriting partnership.

The precious film sat forgotten for 44 years in a garage in south London until film fan Richard Jeffs realised a piece of pop history was contained inside.

Experts were surprised to find the audio portion still usable for radio broadcast.

The nine-minute interview was recorded at the Scottish Television studios in April 1964 during the early days of Beatlemania. It will be broadcast for the first time on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday and repeated later this week.

On the tape, Lennon tells how he was playing with a skiffle band outside Liverpool when McCartney introduced himself.

After thousands of votes 92.9 breakfast radio host Emelia Rusciano is officially one of Australia's Hottest Radio Babes.Zoo Weekly Magazine is holding a competition to find the nations hottest female radio announcer and breakfast host Rusciano has made it through to the final round.After a professional photo shoot co host Michael “Wippa” Wipfli felt it necessary to enter Em in the competition to prove that a mum has got what it takes to win the competition. [link=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23951640-5012990,00.html]Full story PerthNow[/link]

Andrew McLaren has resigned from Magic 1278 breakfast. The veteran announcer decided to finish up on Monday June 30. Co-host Ann Gilding will continue and will be joined on air in the short term by Kevin John.

The rumour mill had gone into overdrive today with suggestions that McLaren would replace John Burgess at 3MP, pure speculation - but as one longtime radio man put it 'Why would anybody jump from the pot to the frying pan!'

Following an eleven month investigation by the nations broadcast regulator, the AustralianCommunications and Media Authority, Albany radio station Fly FM is to stay on air with it’s top 50 music format.

Although delighted that the station will remain on air, station owners Warren and Kira Mead are not in agreement with all of ACMA’s findings, and have expressed concern that the authority may have breached it’s own Principles For Decision Making paper. Fly FM plans to appeal the investigation through the office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman. In the meantime, they will abide by a written undertaking to play all songs in the same order. A cover note that accompanied the undertaking, and addressed to ACMA chairman Chris Chapman, stated:

“We acknowledge that the ACMA has found that our narrowcast service is not in accordance with our s21 opinion. We respectfully disagree with the legal basis of this finding. Despite this, we will fully abide by the signed enforceable undertaking.

However, we wish to make it clear that this document should not be taken to prejudice or preclude any further action or appeals we may wish to take.”

ACMA published the Meads undertaking on their web site, but have refused to include the covering letter.

According to Kira Mead “the ACMA investigation means only a small change to the way we run our business, but we believe it has larger consequences for the independent radio landscape in Australia, and we feel it’s important to see this through.”

ACMA Investigation 1871 was instigated by Commercial Radio Australia, who in Albany, represent the Macquarie owned stations Radio West and Hot FM. Radio West station manager in Albany, Jane Hansen, assisted the complaint by making audio recordings of Fly FM. “For a business that until recently positioned itself as “The Locals You Know” they seem to be excessively keen on snuffing out any local competition” Mr Mead said. “It’s remarkable that a group who can afford to pay it’s former CEO a $50 million dollar golden handshake, would be so concerned about the music content of a small station in Albany.”

The Meads described tactics of Commercial Radio Australia as “grubby“, and in particular, want answers on how a confidential email between Kira Mead and music industry body ARIA, mysteriously ended up in the hands of CRA’s Joan Warner, who quoted from the letter in correspondence with ACMA.

Throughout the investigation, Fly FM owners Warren and Kira Mead, have consistently argued that they were doing nothing wrong, and maintain that there is no clear legal basis in the Broadcasting Services Act to support ACMA’s ruling.

“The fact that ACMA intends to shortly commence a review of section 8 of the Broadcasting Services Clarification Notice 2001, indicates to us that we were right all along” Mr Mead said.

“We paid $1300 to get our program approved by the regulator, and firmly believe our program was running as stated in that Prior Opinion - now it appears ACMA have had a change of heart , and want to fiddle with the act to suit their whims”

Warren and Kira Mead thanked listeners and local business for their support during the investigation. “ I believe that most small business owners can relate to what we’ve been through, and no doubt, have their own stories about the arrogance of large corporations and their minions”.

After a three-year absence, ABC listeners will welcome Angela Catterns back to the fold today. It's only a three-week brief, filling in for Richard Fidler then James Valentine, but it is still significant. It may mark the beginning of a new partnership for Catterns and the ABC, which many consider her natural home, and it draws a line under her unsuccessful foray into commercial FM radio with Vega. Full story SMH

“esCarpade” aims to raise one million dollars this October to bring hope and happiness to children living with cancer and their families..

Behind the Wheel host Joel Helmes says the support is a perfect fit for the segment which is now heard in 5 states and 2 territories.

“We have been given some great support from not only within the radio industry but the motoring business community as well, that’s why we wanted to give something back and what better way than with an event like “esCarpade”.

“Camp Quality does some amazing work and we are very proud to help them out”.

Helmes Media Solutions will donate a full week of exclusive advertising to Camp Quality next week, as well as updates on the progress of “esCarpade” in the lead up to the event.

Former Hot Tomato PD and breakfast presenter Rob McCasker has joined Gold Coast station 94.1 Jazz and Swing. Rob takes over breakfast from July 1 (tomorrow) while former 4BC presenter Tony Murphy is presenting drive. 94.1 Jazz and Swing website also reveals some commercial radio names from years gone by including Doug Cummins and George Danes. Website

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has allocated temporary community broadcasting licences in Young NSW, to Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting Inc and Young District Arts Council Inc. The services will be provided on the 92.3 MHz frequency.

As the two groups were unable to negotiate a timeshare arrangement, ACMA has decided that each group will have equal access to broadcasting time on the 92.3 MHz frequency. Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting Inc will broadcast continuously from 1 July 2008 until 3 January 2009, followed by Young District Arts Council Inc. broadcasting continuously from 4 January 2009 until 30 June 2009. Both groups will represent the general community of Young.

ACMA’s strong preference is for community broadcasting groups to negotiate their own frequency timesharing arrangements,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman. ‘Unfortunately, Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting and Young District Arts Council were unable to do so, requiring ACMA to determine the timeshare arrangement in this case.’

To assist community broadcasting groups, ACMA has developed guidelines for sharing broadcasting time. While priority is generally given to experienced broadcasters, there is an exception where a temporary community broadcaster has unsuccessfully applied for a long-term community licence.

Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting Inc was unsuccessful in its application for a long-term community broadcasting licence for Young in 2007.

‘There is a strong incentive for Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting to use the next six months as a temporary community broadcaster to demonstrate to ACMA that it merits consideration for a long-term licence should one be made available in the future,’ Mr Chapman said. ‘However, ACMA has no immediate plans to look again at allocating a long-term community broadcasting licence for Young.’

Young District Arts Council is a new aspirant community broadcaster which will now have the opportunity to develop the range of operational, programming and other skills necessary to successfully operate a community broadcasting service and to build community support for their service.

The Shooting Star Picture Company has announced record numbers in system activity for the Play MPE® digital delivery system worldwide compared to the same period last year. The commencement of trials of the Australian Play MPE® service with Australian Record labels Universal, EMI, Warner, Shock, Inertia and MGM have added to these figures as the system further cements itself as the worldwide industry standard for digital delivery and proving to be the preferred system of choice for broadcasters and record labels globally.

Play MPE® posted dramatic growth over 2007 and continues to lead the industry with the adoption of digital delivery. Record numbers across the board includes a 135% increase in downloads, streams, burns and exports totaling almost 6 million in activity. Users jumped over 52% to 21,476 installed and tracks in the system exploded to almost 87,000 representing an increase of 80% compared to June 2007.

Play MPE® has recently signed exclusive agreements with parent groups Universal Music Group and EMI Music Group in the U.S. and every other major label including Warner Music Group and SONY BMG are already using the Play MPE® system, solidifying Play MPE® as the only digital delivery system that can provide one central service for all major labels and all releases.

"Play MPE® continues to widen the gap over any other digital delivery system and sets the benchmark in the industry. Worldwide it has the highest adoptions, installations and activity therefore confirming it's place as the industry standard. This incredible growth proves that with the launch of Play MPE® in Australia this July we will locally come into step with the world’s leading digital delivery system," stated Shooting Star’s Peter Skillman.

Melboure's ABC 774 will have two former Vega presenters on air from next Monday ( Wendy Harmer and Beverly O'Connor) to fill in for holidays. Wendy Harmer will cover breakfast for Red Symons for two weeks. Beverly O'Connor will fill in for Lindy Burns on drive. Also stepping in will be Alan Brough doing afternoons for Richard Stubbs .

Tabcorp today announced that Gerard Patane had been appointed the Head of Media Operations for Sky Channel and 2KY. Mr Patane will report to the Head of Tabcorp's Media division, Brendan Parnell and commences his new role on 30 June.

Australian Idol co-host, Andrew G, who also hosts Australia’s biggest weekly radio countdown, “Take 40 Australia”, will MC this year’s Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), which will be held at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast on October 11.Andrew G, began his career in radio at B105 in Brisbane and then SAFM in Adelaide, before moving to television with Channel V.

This year is the 20th year of the ACRAs, which has become a highlight of the radio industry’s annual calendar and attracts radio personalities and stars from around Australia.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said there had been a strong response to this year’s event, with the most popular categories including Best On-Air Team and Best News Presenter as well as Best Station Produced Comedy Segment.

“Entries have increased across all major networks compared to last year with considerable growth in the number of entries for Best Music Special and Best Show Producer – Entertainment and Music – a new category introduced last year,” Ms Warner said.

Organised by Commercial Radio Australia, on behalf of the radio industry, the national Awards include 32 categories, which cover all areas of radio broadcasting including news, talk, sport, music and entertainment. The ACRAs differ from television’s Logie Awards, in that they are peer judged with judging panels comprised of industry members. Winners are announced in each category across three areas: metropolitan, provincial and country commercial radio stations.

This year there is one new category – Best Multimedia Execution, which has been introduced to recognise innovative multimedia campaigns which involve listeners, using a website and podcasts, mobile phones or other multimedia applications.

Winners from last year’s Awards include well-known radio personalities, 2DayFM’s Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O; Neil Mitchell from Melbourne’s 3AW morning program; Dylan Lewis from Nova in Melbourne and Jabba from NOVA 969 in Sydney.

The Gold Coast is always well-represented at the Awards with seven national awards (provincial) won by Gold Coast radio stations last year.

Ms Warner said a feature of the Awards is the Hall of Fame, which acknowledges a lifelong commitment to the Australian radio industry. Last year, two industry giants, Neil Mitchell from Melbourne’s 3AW and Greg Smith, a pioneer of FM Radio, were inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.Other previous inductees have included Frank Hyde, Rod Muir, John Laws, Bob Rogers and Paul Thompson. Hall of Fame recipients are nominated by industry colleagues and decided by a high level judging committee. [/html]

Bianca Dye will head back to Sydney after a 3 week stint on Gold Coast breakfast radio at Hot Tomato FM. Bianca has had numerous job offers in Sydney and although details of those offers can't be revealed there are whispers of a return to Sydney radio very soon.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Macarthur Community Radio Association Inc, the licensee of community radio service 2MCR Campbelltown, breached the Community Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2002 in the way it handled a complaint.

Following a complaint in December 2007, ACMA’s investigation found that the licensee of 2MCR breached clause 7.4(b) of the code, in that it did not ensure the complaint was conscientiously considered and investigated.

ACMA also found that the licensee of 2MCR breached clause 7.4(c) of the code, as it did not include a copy of the code with its response to the complaint.

2MCR also breached clause 7.4(d) of the code, in that it did not advise the complainant that he had the right to refer his complaint to ACMA if he was dissatisfied with the response.

As the licensee has acknowledged the breaches and had not breached the relevant code provisions in the last two years, ACMA will not be taking further action on this occasion.

Gay rights activist Gary Burns will go to air on the Sydney radio network he became famous for suing after an announcer used the term "pillow-biter".

In an out-of-court settlement between Mr Burns and radio station 2UE last week, the network agreed to apologise for vilifying homosexuals during an on-air conversation between high profile presenters John Laws and Steve Price.

Radio 2UE, Mr Laws and Mr Price originally appealed a 2004 NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal finding they vilified homosexuals during on-air exchanges in 2003 regarding gay renovators Waz and Gav from the Nine Network television show The Block.Read the entire article

George Buschman has quit the Pacific Star Network SEN/3MP board and he will be replaced by Gary Pert. Pert is the former General Manager of Austereo in Melbourne as well as a former AFL footballer having played for Collingwood and Fitzroy. With his passion for AFL and radio Pert will be a valuable assett to the stations. 1116 SEN are in their second year of live AFL coverage.

3AW's Derryn Hinch returned from his two week break today and opened his program with an editorial attacking the celebrity status attained by Melbourne underworld figures. Those who he attacked included Mick Gatto, who happened to be listening and was quick to jump on the phone and return fire.

"You are scum, and I tell you what, I have a punching bag at home with your name on it and I punch the shit out of it," Gatto told Hinch.

Hinch hit back.

"If burning you is my job in life, I'll be more than happy to do it. I think you and all your ilk and all your mob and the Carlton Crew and the Carl Williamses of this world, you are all scum."

The verbal jousting lasted several minutes and included this exchange:

Gatto: "It's ratbags like you that sort of put me in the limelight, where I want to be left alone and mind my own businesses but I can't because I've got maggots like you driving me mad".

Hinch: "Do you know what? If I could go to my grave being called a maggot by a person like Mick Gatto, boy I'm proud of myself".

Gatto: "Well, I hope you go to your grave very quick, mate".

Hinch: "Yeah?"

Gatto: "That's where you deserve to be because you are a maggot".

Hinch: "You live in that world where people go to their graves. You ... you ... you live in that world where people go to their graves quickly. Don't you?"

Gatto: "Well, you'll be one of them. You'll be one of them very soon, mate".

Hinch last year admitted he was suffering a life-threatening condition, advanced cirrhosis of the liver, combined with a benign liver tumour.

Gatto, who describes himself as an industrial negotiator, was acquitted on a charge of murder following the death of underworld henchman Andrew "Benji" Veniamin at the back of a Carlton restaurant on March 23, 2004.

Think about the street in which you live or another Australian street that you love, hate or are fascinated by. Then think about telling the stories that belong on that street in words, pictures, video or sound - the choice is yours. The possibilities are tantalising.

ABC Radio National’s Street Stories program wants to bring the stories of our streets together through My Street. My Street is a new multimedia project that will enable stories to be shared by everyone, no matter where they are in Australia, at abc.net.au/rn/mystreet <http://abc.net.au/rn/mystreet> .

Share a story from your street with My Street, from 22 June, and the best entry will win the chance to work with the Street Stories team to produce a radio documentary about your street, or another mutually agreed topic.

.All entries will be available to view on the My Street website as soon as they are uploaded. The competition closes on 7 November 2008.

Your story may also be broadcast on ABC Radio National. A selection of the best stories will be featured on Street Stories once a month, throughout the competition period.

Your story needs to be told in no more than seven minutes using video, audio, images or up to 700 words of text. You can record it on your mobile phone, an MP3 player, a video or digital camera. Or you could submit an animation, a story, a photo montage – the choice is yours.

ABC Radio National's Street Stories is a weekly half-hour program devoted to social documentaries. You'll hear stories and experiences from across Australia and around the globe. Come with us into the places where lives are lived; lounge rooms, pubs, offices - even caves - to hear tales of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Street Stories can be heard every Sunday at 1.30pm (repeat 8pm) or as audio on demand and podcast at abc.net.au/rn/streetstories <http://abc.net.au/rn/streetstories> .

For everything you need to know about My Street and to view entries, visit abc.net.au/rn/mystreet <http://abc.net.au/rn/mystreet> from Sunday 22 June.[[b]Submitted by James[/b]]

Veteran Newcastle radio man Keith Ashton passed away suddenly on Friday 21st June 2008. Keith who started in radio at 2KO in 1953 packed a lifetime into the industry and is often referred to as the father of Narrowcast Broadcasting in Australia.

Red Harrison, former anchor of ABC radio's AM program during one of its most influential periods in the early 1980s when it was also broadcast on 2JJ, died yesterday after a long illness. He was 75.Born Arthur Lesley Harrison, Red started in radio as a cadet with the ABC in the 1950s, before moving to newspapers with stints as editor in Sydney and Perth later becoming the local radio correspondent for the BBC.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released the Community Broadcasting Sponsorship Guidelines 2008 (the sponsorship guidelines) to replace 2003 guidelines issued by the Australian Broadcasting Authority.

‘The sponsorship guidelines will assist community broadcasting licensees to understand their obligations in relation to the restrictions on advertising and the requirements for sponsorship announcements,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act), all community broadcasting licences are subject to a licence condition that prevents them from broadcasting advertisements

However, community broadcasting licensees may broadcast a range of announcements and other promotional material which the Act does not regard as advertisements.

For example, licensees may broadcast sponsorship announcements as long as they meet requirements for ‘tagging’ and hourly sponsorship limits (five minutes for radio and seven minutes for television).

Release of the guidelines accords with a recommendation of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts inquiry into community broadcasting that ACMA update the sponsorship guidelines by 30 June 2008.

The new guidelines are available [link=http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311062#sponsorship]here[/link]

Tenterfield community radio station 2 Ten Fm is in real danger of having to cease operation Tenterfield and District Community FM Radio Association president Marion Saxby warned in a letter to the Tenterfield Shire Council recently.The letter, appealing for financial assistance to meet $14,000 debt, was tabled at the council’s Finance and Policy Committee meeting on Wednesday last week. FULL STORY

Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett has announced the National Film and Sound Archive 'Sounds of Australia' 2008 additions today as part of Sound Day, a series of special events to celebrate Australian recorded sound.

It's struggle street for Alan JonesSydney Morning Herald, Australia -The soft figures will add fuel to rumours that Jones has lost his passion for radio and is considering a reduced workload next year. ...

Nova dominates radio ratingsCourier Mail, Australia -NOVA has emerged as the clear winner in Brisbane's radio ratings, dominating most timeslots and snatching two crucial slots from rival Triple M. Nova ...

Media release: The search for new and emerging Australian music talent by the radio industry is on again with entries now open for the New Artist to Radio (NA2R) event, to be held at the Gold Coast on October 10.

The commercial radio industry initiative aims to discover the next big music star to be played on commercial radio throughout the country and is now in its seventh year. The event is open to unsigned Australian artists who have not charted in the top 100 Australian National airplay chart.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said the initiative was one of the main ways in which the commercial radio sector helped nurture and support Australian musical talent.

“This is an industry-wide initiative which has helped launched some very successful music careers since its inception including artists like Delta Goodrem, Kid Courageous, Sarah Blasko, Thirsty Merc, Jade Macrae and the Sunpilots,” Ms Warner said.

Three winners are chosen – one each from three genres: rock, pop and adult contemporary. The three winners will perform at the NA2R event at the Gold Coast in front of key people from the commercial radio sector.

All the finalists also attend a workshop by leading radio program directors and music marketing experts about how to maximize radio airplay and exposure – a popular feature of the event aimed at helping artists.

The winners of the event will also share in $150,000 worth of advertising airtime on four of the major commercial radio networks: Australian Radio Network, Austereo, DMG Radio and Macquarie Southern Cross Media. In addition, the four networks will choose a genre winner to add to their network play list for early 2009.

Two new elements have been added for the winners this year. They are:

• MGM Distribution (MGM) will provide distribution for the winner in each category including digital online sales via ITunes. Each single will be submitted to ARIA for inclusion in the ARIA single chart survey.

• VGM Media and Marketing (VGM) will design the single cover and CD art for distribution. VGM will also provide the winners in each genre with advice regarding media and direction in relation to tracking each song at radio to ensure maximum exposure.

Ms Warner welcomed the new partnerships with MGM Distribution and VGM Media and Marketing.

“Unearthing new Australian music talent has always been one of the key roles played by commercial radio and the additional benefits provided to NA2R winners this year will help increase their chance of success and exposure – all very positive outcomes,” Ms Warner said.

NA2R entry packs can be downloaded from www.myspace.com/newartists2radio with the social interactive website supporting the event for the third year in a row.

Or people can enter at www.na2r.com.au allowing bands to upload their MP3 tracks and complete the details online. Entries will be accepted until July 18.

Submissions will be judged by a panel of commercial radio network program and music directors, based on their commercial radio play potential, and also with input from radio station listeners and MySpace members

Media release: The 2008 Sirens winner, an advertisement for RACV Financial Services called “Disclaimer”, written by Paul Reardon and Julian Schreiber from Clemenger BBDO in Melbourne, has been shortlisted for the Radio Lions at the Cannes Advertising Festival overnight.

The RACV ad is one of three 2008 Sirens finalists and winners that have made it to the radio shortlist in Cannes this year. The other two ads are “Police Radio”, written by Belgiovane Williams Mackay, Sydney for Working Against Culpable Driving, and "Do I sound different?", written by Leo Burnett Melbourne for SCOPE.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said this was the second year in a row that the Sirens winning ad had made it to the shortlist with last year’s winner eventually taking out the Grand Prix Radio Lions.

“This is great news for the Australian radio industry which has been working hard to ensure both the quality and creativity of radio ads have improved over the past few years. International recognition, like making the shortlist at Cannes, is proof that these efforts are reaping rewards,” Ms Warner said.

“It is also pleasing that one of the ads for the Commercial Radio Australia brand campaign, “Small Market” written by Eardrum Sydney is also on the shortlist. To be recognized internationally by some of the best creative minds in the world is a fantastic achievement,” Ms Warner said.

The shortlisted Australian ads are: (listed by agency, client and title)

Survey 4 of the Nielsen radio ratings have delivered clear wins to Fiveaa, Nova106.9, 3AW, 2GB and 94.5

In the case of Fiveaa their evenings jumped from 21.4 to 23.4 an increase of 2.0. Nova 106.9, clearly the strongest Nova station in the nation had a good rise in drive of 2.7, up from 15.3 to 18.0. 3AW breakfast continues to blitz everything in its path delivering 20.1 up 2.9 from 17.2. In Sydney 2GB are still leading however one good survey for 2DAY FM or ABC702 will see a tight battle in the Harbour city. Perth has seen Mix 94.5 come out on top despite small falls in most daytime programs.

AFTER creating country music station Geelong Country three years ago, Greg Parkinson has introduced Australia to Hot Country. Parkinson, the creator and music director of the station, says he has been shocked with the success of the project so far."People who don't like country music automatically assume no one else does as well," he said. "But the response has been overwhelming." More Geelong Adveriser

Media release: The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that SWRFM Community Media Association, the licensee of 2SWR Blacktown, breached a condition of its licence by broadcasting an advertisement.

ACMA’s investigation found that during a broadcast of one of its ethnic programs, 2SWR Blacktown broadcast an advertisement. The station failed to appropriately ‘tag’ the advertisement and therefore it could not be considered a sponsorship announcement under the Act.

The investigation did note that 2SWR Blacktown has already made improvements to its policies and procedures, including prohibiting presenters from interviewing sponsors on air. 2SWR Blacktown has advised all current presenters of the new policies and procedures.

ACMA is satisfied with 2SWR Blacktown’s initiatives and considered that it has taken reasonable steps to ensure that it does not breach the licence condition prohibiting the broadcasting of advertisements.

ACMA’s investigation followed a complaint received on 9 September 2007 that 2SWR Blacktown had broadcast an advertisement during its Punjabi Show.

FORMER Big Brother host Gretel Killeen refuses to watch the current series and refuses to comment on its poor ratings.Killeen, who was interviewed by Sonia Kruger and Todd McKenney on Sydney's Mix 106.5, said it was a conscious decision to distance herself from Big Brother as she didn't want compare this year's series with the previous seven she hosted. Full story CourierMail

Her hubby is the one usually in the spotlight but Stacey Pallaras is quietly carving out her own career. The mum-of-two and wife of Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras (no, they're not related to local shoe designer Mary-Kyri Pallaras featured elsewhere in this sectiobn), has been appointed station manager at FreshFM. "It's exciting," Stacey said. "I come from a community radio background in WA and I did a brief stint on Radio Adelaide." Full story AdelaideNow

He is known for being the bad-boy of radio and what one radio insider described as limbo radio (morally how low can you go).The 37 year old has been warned by his doctor to cut out the junk food and lose at least 10kg, or being nationally hated by many won't be the biggest of his problems. Kyle has described himself as an everyday tablet man who thrives on caffeine, he recently admitted to drinking up to 8 litres of Coca Cola a day. However, despite his health crisis, the radio-turned-television personality says he wont be relinquishing his bad-boy image. Sandilands has been off the 2DAY FM airwavess after contracting pneumonia while overseas.

4BC drive presenter John Miller will step down from the role from June 27. He will be replaced by Michael P Smith and the new presenter will extend drive by 1 hour to a 3 hour format.John Miller who has been with 4BC for around 15 years will continue to be involved with the station and will be back on air in October presenting weekend afternoons.

We inducted John Laws into the Hall of Fame around five years ago, the 3AK Hall of Fame, however the retired broadcaster will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame will to be held on Monday July 1 at the Melbourne Town Hall. Laws will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from ARIA for his contribution to the Australian Music Industry. Full story

The return of Phil O'Neil to Triple M has sparked talk he is set to take the place of the station's feuding early morning stars and ratings flops The Shebang.

Returning to the Austereo fold this week, as a fill-in for the rock station's drive timeslot, O'Neil is widely regarded as a likely replacement for the warring crew of Fifi Box, Paul Murray and Marty Sheargold. Full story

Claims that entertainer Don Lane has advanced dementia have been denied by his manager Jayne Ambrose. Speaking in response to an announcement made by Don's close friend. 2UE's Chris Kearns, Ambrose said 'yes he's recently been moved to the care facility, however reports of his dementia given on 2UE are inaccurate.' Hear the 2UE announcement here.

Don Lane is best known for his work on the hugely successful Don Lane Show, which ran on the Nine Network from the mid 1970s until 1983

Although many think of television when you say the name Don Lane he has dabbled in radio over the years including stints at 3UZ, 2UE AND 3AK. Don was at 2UE in the mid 1980's in the days of the failed 3AK-2UE City Between Cities radio. Lane also did breakfast radio in the 1970's at 3UZ and shared a half radio hour spot with Bert Newton each day prior to Bert's 'UZ morning Show.

2UE was forced to evacuate their studios just before 3.00pm this afternoon due to a fire in the building that houses the radio station. Weekend breakfast presenter Don Burke, currently filling in for Tim Webster on the afternoon program, announced that "smoke was billowing" through the building and they would be going to music until further notice. It forced the station to drop their 3.00pm news replaced by the old perennial in times of crisis, Macarthur Park all 7 plus minutes of it. Drive presenter John Stanley returned the station to air just after 3.10pm.

Further to our item earlier today, Fairfax Media have this morning launched WAtoday, an online Newspaper site for Western Australia. The site features a broad coverage of news from WA and around the globe. Sister stations 96fm and 6PR will play a pivotal role in the foundation of the site and are featured with live streaming. 6PR had previously been a feature of the News Limited site PerthNow however it was replaced by Perth's Nova FM some months ago. Check out WAtoday

With some radio presenters taking a mid-year break many listeners woke to find a different voice or two serving up breakfast radio. For some of the talent it is a chance to peddle their wares to see if they can get back on the circuit, while others who have been champing at the bit to get on air may find two weeks is all the listeners (and programmers) can take. Are best of highlights wearing thin? Heard any shockers that have forced you to change stations? Or are you happy with the fill in?

The pattern for many stations now is to have a regular fill in presenter for each program. Such is the case for Alan Jones at 2GB where Jason Morrison holds the fort or Denis Walter who slides into 3AW's Ernie Sigley program.

Something different this time around at 2UE, George Moore & Paul B. Kidd are filling in for Mike & Sandy on breakfast and Don Burke is in for Tim Webster on afternoons. Let us know who has popped up on the dial.

Here are the latest radio news cuts from Media UK .There are 11 new items today.

Ocean FM breach formatFrom Radio Today. Posted June 9 2008, 11.26amOfcom have found Ocean FM in breach of its format for the second time in eight months.Despite the formal breach, which the regulators considered "at odds with the core format promise" and "failing to fulfill the spirit of the station licence", the station has not been penalised. (more)

My Life In Media: Sammy JacobFrom The Independent. Posted June 9 2008, 12.00amSammy Jacob, 44, is managing director of NME Radio, which launches later this month, though you can listen to a pre-launch show presented by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington from today. (more)

GMTV Team Makes Two AppointmentsFrom allmediascotland - Spike. Posted June 9 2008, 7.53amA journalist recently with Edinburgh-based radio station, talk107, has become one of two, new recruits at the company providing Scottish output for GMTV. Elspeth Badger - pictured, second from right - joins as a video journalist after being with talk107 since February last year. ... (more)

Debbie McGee joins BBC localFrom Radio Today. Posted June 9 2008, 9.13amDebbie McGee, celebrity wife of Paul Daniels has joined BBC Radio Berkshire on a permanent basis to host a new Sunday morning show, from 9am till midday. (more)

JACK continues Oxford dealFrom Radio Today. Posted June 9 2008, 9.01amThe team at JACK fm are extending their commentary deal with Oxford United for another year. The station will also continue to sponsor the back of the home and away kits. (more)

Theakston and Ferrari re-signFrom Radio Today. Posted June 9 2008, 9.08amGlobal Radio has shown commitment to two of its London breakfast presenters - Jamie Theakston and Nick Ferrari by contracting them to a further three years.Jamie will continue his show on Heart 106.2, which he has hosted since 2005, whilst Nick Ferrari will continue on LBC 97. (more)

Rwandans are hooked on Africa's AmblesideFrom The Independent. Posted June 9 2008, 12.00amT wice a week Rwanda comes to a standstill. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening at sundown, from the dusty, bustling streets of Kigali to the jungle-clad villages perched on volcano slopes, residents huddle around the nearest radio, sometimes 20 to a set. Anticipation mounts until, at 6. (more)

Fairfax Media are set to announce the arrival of their WAtoday news website today when chief executive David Kirk delivers his speech to the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia lunch in Perth. His speech will be on media in the 21st century.

Fairfax has no daily print pressence in Perth however they own two radio stations, 6PR and 96fm and it is believed these will both be heavily cross promoted on the new news interactive website.Perth's only daily newspaper is 'The West Australian' owned by WAN and then there is News Limited who have an established on-line 'paper' which is PerthNow.

There are some veteran radio names amongst this years Queens Birthday Honours including Don Kinsey - Member (AM) of the Order of Australia , Margaret Christensen - Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia and Reg Grundy - a Companion of the Order of Australia . In all radio has played a pivotal role in the early parts of their respective careers. Don Kinsey was a part of the fabric of 3DB from the late 1950's until 1976 when he became public affairs director with the Royal Children's Hospital, a role he held until to 1996.

Reg Grundy, a one-time boxer who early in a long career went on to become a radio sports commentator. He built a television production empire and at one stage owned a large parcel of regional radio stations and has made an outstanding contribution through the television industry and promotion of Australia overseas.

Margaret Christensen started in radio in Brisbane at the age of 18 with her very own show "I gave girls advice about make-up and that sort of thing," Christensen said. "Radio was a very big industry then.". Christensen also acted on stage in Australia and England, including Funny Girl and Fiddler on the Roof; with film roles including Smiley and Babe: Pig in the City.

Media release: The audience potential for Australia’s famed Take 40 Chart® has leaped by more than a million following a strategic partnership between mcm entertainment and News Limited’s digital flagship, NEWS.com.au.

The partnership will enable visitors to NEWS.com.au’s entertainment pages to enjoy the latest audio and video music tracks from mcm’s weekly Take 40 Chart, pre-programmed playlists and access to the Take 40 tracks from the past 25 years – all free.

Take 40 content will now be available beyond its own website, signaling a shift in mcm’s digital strategy that takes its high-quality audio and video portfolio across the web in partnership with major media and content companies, who are keen to offer consumers rich streaming content. This will continue to widen mcm’s audience reach, thereby increasing the appeal to advertisers.

NEWS.com.au publisher Sigrid Kirk said: “The Take 40 Australia brand is synonymous with music in this country, with most people growing up listening to the countdown on radio each Sunday. Take 40 is the leading digital streaming music brand in Australia and we are proud to be the only news, information and entertainment site in Australia to offer the music video and audio track functionality to its users.”

At the super bandwidth settings*, the Take 40 Music Player on www.NEWS.com.au offers near-DVD quality videos and significantly higher audio quality than standard iTunes downloads and other rival music sites here and abroad.

mcm’s Digital Sales Manager, Paul Blackburn said: “This is good news for advertisers; with such engaging, rich content and the added reach of News.com.au it means advertising messages will have greater impact and efficiencies. We will be offering unique targeting mechanics via specific artists, genres and themes that will ensure display or TVC placements work harder for the client.”

Simon Joyce, National Sales Director, said the new partnership will dramatically increase the scale of mcm’s digital media offering. “Whether it’s within our own sites or across our growing network of online channels, mcm continues to provide superior quality, targeted advertising environments for our clients.”

FOREIGN correspondent Peter Lloyd and Lateline co-host Virginia Trioli will anchor the ABC's ambitious Breakfast TV news program starting on ABC2 in September. Broadcast from Melbourne, Breakfast will have a dedicated Canberra political correspondent as well as access to all the other journalists for breaking news.

Cameras will be installed in dozens of ABC radio studios across the country to film live interviews with politicians. Related article [link=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23817905-2,00.html]here.[/link]

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Ballarat Community FM Radio Co-operative Limited, the licensee of Ballarat community broadcasting service 99.9 Voice FM, breached a condition of its licence by broadcasting advertisements.

Community radio stations may broadcast up to five minutes of sponsorship announcements in any hour. Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, a sponsorship announcement on community radio that promotes the sponsor’s business must include an appropriate acknowledgement of financial support (a ‘tag’), otherwise it will be considered an advertisement.

Following a complaint in February 2008, ACMA’s investigation found that Voice FM broadcast an advertisement on 5 February 2008 because promotional material played during the ‘Lifestyle Program’ did not include a ‘tag’.

As ACMA is satisfied that the licensee has put in place adequate measures to ensure there are no further breaches of the sponsorship rules, no action is proposed at this time.

A copy of investigation report #1975 is available on the ACMA website.

BackgrounderACMA conducts various types of investigations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act). Investigations under Part 11 of the Act are conducted in response to complaints received by ACMA relating to a possible breach by:

a licensed broadcaster of the Act, the regulations, a licence condition, a class licence or a code of practice; orthe ABC or SBS of a code of practice.If a person wishes to complain about something of concern they have seen or heard on a program broadcast by a radio or TV station, and the matter is covered by a code of practice, the person must, by law, first make a written complaint to the station.

However, if a complaint relates to a matter covered by a licence condition, the person can complain directly to ACMA and need not complain to the station first.

There is a different code of practice for each broadcasting sector, and each code of practice contains a section that explains the complaints process that applies to that sector.

As some codes impose time limits for complaints, it is advisable that people who wish to make a complaint write to the radio or TV station as soon as possible. For instance, the code of practice that applies to commercial television broadcasters enables them to decide to not respond in writing to complaints that are made more than 30 days after the date of broadcast.

When making a complaint to ACMA, people must provide a copy of their complaint to the station, a copy of the station’s reply if this has been received, and any other relevant correspondence with the station. ACMA takes all complaints seriously (except for those that are frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith) and acknowledges all complaints in writing.

For valid complaints, ACMA considers the information provided and offers the relevant station an opportunity to provide its perspectives. When all relevant information is available, ACMA assesses the complaint against the relevant licence condition or code of practice.

When an investigation is completed, ACMA is required to notify a complainant of the results of an investigation under Part 11 of the Act. The form this notification is to take is not specified in the Act – it might be in the form of a letter or, alternatively, it could be in the form of a more formal investigation report which is provided to both the complainant and the licensee concerned.

Generally, personal or private information provided in a complaint, including name and address details, are not disclosed to the licensee concerned if it is a licence condition matter. However, as code complaints are first made to a licensee, code complaints are usually made available to the licensee concerned. ACMA’s usual practice is to not provide personal or private information in an investigation report.

Under the Act, ACMA has a discretion whether or not to publish the report of an investigation conducted under Part 11 of the Act. ACMA's usual practice is to publish such reports. However, ACMA is not required to publish an investigation report if publication would disclose matter of a confidential character or likely to prejudice the fair trial of a person. If ACMA intends to publish an investigation report that may adversely affect the interests of a person, ACMA must give the person an opportunity to make representations in relation to the matter.

Rod and The Flack have been axed from 96FM nights with the duo finishing up last Friday. (30th May) The pair moved to Perth at the start of this year and after just 7 weeks on 96FM breakfast were replaced by veteran Gary Shannon and co. This decision at the time reportedly resulted in the resignation of PD Brad McNally and two breakfast producers. After debuting on nights in late March they were looking forward to delivering a true alternative to Perth night time radio, sadly no more.

From this coming Monday (June 9) many stations will be giving their stars two weeks off and in most cases we will be offered the regular fill in presenters. The Austereo Today network has put together an unlikely trio to cover breakfast across a number of their stations. Singer Brian McFadden, tv star Michala Banas and SAFM's Andrew 'Cosi' Costello will come together for two weeks while your regular Today Network breakfast presenters hit the snooze button!

AS host of Australia's only gay commercial radio program, Dan Watson often takes confession from listeners. "They ring up and go, 'Mate, I'm from Frankston, I'm heterosexual — but I love your show'," he says. "They just need to get it off their chest."

Watson estimates 80% of his listeners are straight. Why? Perhaps it's because The Stick Shift, which airs Sundays at 8pm on NovaFM, is a "fun" show. Read the entire article [link=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/gay-show-redblooded/2008/06/04/1212258891353.html] here[/link]

Radio station 105.7 The River launched its annual appeal at the Albury Base Hospital yesterday.Breakfast hosts Greg Allan and Mel Little said they hoped to raise more than $25,000 so the station can buy new equipment for the children’s ward.“We need $25,000 to buy surgical equipment that allows surgeons to do key-hole surgery right here in Albury,” Allan said. [link=http://bordermail.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/high-hopes-for-kids-appeal/781662.aspx]Full story Border Mail[/link]

Triple M breaky co-host and Channel 9's stand-in weather girl Sami Lukis has been voted the sexiest woman on radio in a couriermail.com.au poll.Lukis, who returned to Brisbane from Sydney this year to join The Cage with Ian Skippen, Sully and Marto, snared a quarter of the 1300-plus votes in the poll. [link=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23808531-7642,00.html]Full story here CourierMail[/link]

Rob McCasker has threatened 102.9 Hot Tomato with a wrongful dismissal suit. Breakfast announcer and station program director Rob McCasker was sacked by email last month and his belongings delivered to his Coomera Waters home on the Gold Coast after the station alleged he breached confidentiality and spoke of the pending departure of breakfast co-host Renae King to her on air colleagues Luke Bradnam and Kate Carlyle. Related story [link=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23804047-5012980,00.html]CourierMail [/link] or [link=http://www.innovistic.typepad.com/]Rob McCasker's blog here[/link]

When Mike Goldman filled in for 2DAY FM's Kyle Sandilands on Sunday nights Big Brother program the producers probably kicked themselves for not giving the gig to Goldman at the start of the 2008 series.Goldman knows the Big Brother formula inside out and has the ability to connect to the audience, studio and viewers alike. Sandilands is on the sick list this week and is also away from his 2DAY FM breakfast show.

Virgini Radio has been sold to to the parent company of Times of India newspaper The $106 million dollar deal will transfer the national AM license and FM London license to Bennett, Coleman & Co. but the "Virgin" brand name is not part of the deal.The new owner of the licenses can use the "Virgin" name for 90 days then has to assume a new identity for them. If Bennet, Coleman & Co. decide in the next two years it would like to use the "Virgin" name, it will cost another $16 million for the rights.

Fairfax media is looking to bundle advertising packages together to reach a better mix of their radio, online and print customers.Mr Mott said Fairfax Radio would this week announce a new full-time national ad sales head -- the first time it had done so -- in part to capitalise on bundling opportunities.

"In the new modern media, bundling comes into play," Mr Mott said. "You need someone to champion it. If we can cross-promote between the three of them (radio, print and online), and provide an environment for advertisers to extend their reach, we've got the market well covered."

Mr Mott is particularly taken with potential advertising synergies between Fairfax's radio and digital operations.

"For the talk radio listener, the radio station is breaking news. For those who do not listen to talk radio, online is the news-breaker."Source The Australian

3AW's Derryn Hinch held a NAME THEM AND SHAME THEM rally on the steps of Victoria's Parliment House yesterday where he publicly named a serial pedophile who has been released into the community after completing his parole period. Hinch named the pedophile and the crowd of around a 1000 repeated the mans name. A County Court judge ruled that, as is the case with other sex offenders, the man's name should be suppressed in the interests of his rehabilitation.

Hinch was jailed for 12 days in 1987 after revealing on his radio show the past convictions of a pedophile priest, Father Michael Glennon, despite knowing that Glennon was still to face court over other offences.

The British Broadcasting Corp (BBC) will air a long lost Beatles interview featuring John Lennon and Paul McCartney talking about the day they met and their songwriting partnership.

The precious film sat forgotten for 44 years in a garage in south London until film fan Richard Jeffs realised a piece of pop history was contained inside.

Experts were surprised to find the audio portion still usable for radio broadcast.

The nine-minute interview was recorded at the Scottish Television studios in April 1964 during the early days of Beatlemania. It will be broadcast for the first time on BBC Radio 4 on Wednesday and repeated later this week.

On the tape, Lennon tells how he was playing with a skiffle band outside Liverpool when McCartney introduced himself.

After thousands of votes 92.9 breakfast radio host Emelia Rusciano is officially one of Australia's Hottest Radio Babes.Zoo Weekly Magazine is holding a competition to find the nations hottest female radio announcer and breakfast host Rusciano has made it through to the final round.After a professional photo shoot co host Michael “Wippa” Wipfli felt it necessary to enter Em in the competition to prove that a mum has got what it takes to win the competition. [link=http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,23951640-5012990,00.html]Full story PerthNow[/link]

Andrew McLaren has resigned from Magic 1278 breakfast. The veteran announcer decided to finish up on Monday June 30. Co-host Ann Gilding will continue and will be joined on air in the short term by Kevin John.

The rumour mill had gone into overdrive today with suggestions that McLaren would replace John Burgess at 3MP, pure speculation - but as one longtime radio man put it 'Why would anybody jump from the pot to the frying pan!'

Following an eleven month investigation by the nations broadcast regulator, the AustralianCommunications and Media Authority, Albany radio station Fly FM is to stay on air with it’s top 50 music format.

Although delighted that the station will remain on air, station owners Warren and Kira Mead are not in agreement with all of ACMA’s findings, and have expressed concern that the authority may have breached it’s own Principles For Decision Making paper. Fly FM plans to appeal the investigation through the office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman. In the meantime, they will abide by a written undertaking to play all songs in the same order. A cover note that accompanied the undertaking, and addressed to ACMA chairman Chris Chapman, stated:

“We acknowledge that the ACMA has found that our narrowcast service is not in accordance with our s21 opinion. We respectfully disagree with the legal basis of this finding. Despite this, we will fully abide by the signed enforceable undertaking.

However, we wish to make it clear that this document should not be taken to prejudice or preclude any further action or appeals we may wish to take.”

ACMA published the Meads undertaking on their web site, but have refused to include the covering letter.

According to Kira Mead “the ACMA investigation means only a small change to the way we run our business, but we believe it has larger consequences for the independent radio landscape in Australia, and we feel it’s important to see this through.”

ACMA Investigation 1871 was instigated by Commercial Radio Australia, who in Albany, represent the Macquarie owned stations Radio West and Hot FM. Radio West station manager in Albany, Jane Hansen, assisted the complaint by making audio recordings of Fly FM. “For a business that until recently positioned itself as “The Locals You Know” they seem to be excessively keen on snuffing out any local competition” Mr Mead said. “It’s remarkable that a group who can afford to pay it’s former CEO a $50 million dollar golden handshake, would be so concerned about the music content of a small station in Albany.”

The Meads described tactics of Commercial Radio Australia as “grubby“, and in particular, want answers on how a confidential email between Kira Mead and music industry body ARIA, mysteriously ended up in the hands of CRA’s Joan Warner, who quoted from the letter in correspondence with ACMA.

Throughout the investigation, Fly FM owners Warren and Kira Mead, have consistently argued that they were doing nothing wrong, and maintain that there is no clear legal basis in the Broadcasting Services Act to support ACMA’s ruling.

“The fact that ACMA intends to shortly commence a review of section 8 of the Broadcasting Services Clarification Notice 2001, indicates to us that we were right all along” Mr Mead said.

“We paid $1300 to get our program approved by the regulator, and firmly believe our program was running as stated in that Prior Opinion - now it appears ACMA have had a change of heart , and want to fiddle with the act to suit their whims”

Warren and Kira Mead thanked listeners and local business for their support during the investigation. “ I believe that most small business owners can relate to what we’ve been through, and no doubt, have their own stories about the arrogance of large corporations and their minions”.

After a three-year absence, ABC listeners will welcome Angela Catterns back to the fold today. It's only a three-week brief, filling in for Richard Fidler then James Valentine, but it is still significant. It may mark the beginning of a new partnership for Catterns and the ABC, which many consider her natural home, and it draws a line under her unsuccessful foray into commercial FM radio with Vega. Full story SMH

“esCarpade” aims to raise one million dollars this October to bring hope and happiness to children living with cancer and their families..

Behind the Wheel host Joel Helmes says the support is a perfect fit for the segment which is now heard in 5 states and 2 territories.

“We have been given some great support from not only within the radio industry but the motoring business community as well, that’s why we wanted to give something back and what better way than with an event like “esCarpade”.

“Camp Quality does some amazing work and we are very proud to help them out”.

Helmes Media Solutions will donate a full week of exclusive advertising to Camp Quality next week, as well as updates on the progress of “esCarpade” in the lead up to the event.

Former Hot Tomato PD and breakfast presenter Rob McCasker has joined Gold Coast station 94.1 Jazz and Swing. Rob takes over breakfast from July 1 (tomorrow) while former 4BC presenter Tony Murphy is presenting drive. 94.1 Jazz and Swing website also reveals some commercial radio names from years gone by including Doug Cummins and George Danes. Website

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has allocated temporary community broadcasting licences in Young NSW, to Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting Inc and Young District Arts Council Inc. The services will be provided on the 92.3 MHz frequency.

As the two groups were unable to negotiate a timeshare arrangement, ACMA has decided that each group will have equal access to broadcasting time on the 92.3 MHz frequency. Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting Inc will broadcast continuously from 1 July 2008 until 3 January 2009, followed by Young District Arts Council Inc. broadcasting continuously from 4 January 2009 until 30 June 2009. Both groups will represent the general community of Young.

ACMA’s strong preference is for community broadcasting groups to negotiate their own frequency timesharing arrangements,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman. ‘Unfortunately, Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting and Young District Arts Council were unable to do so, requiring ACMA to determine the timeshare arrangement in this case.’

To assist community broadcasting groups, ACMA has developed guidelines for sharing broadcasting time. While priority is generally given to experienced broadcasters, there is an exception where a temporary community broadcaster has unsuccessfully applied for a long-term community licence.

Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting Inc was unsuccessful in its application for a long-term community broadcasting licence for Young in 2007.

‘There is a strong incentive for Lambing Flat Community Broadcasting to use the next six months as a temporary community broadcaster to demonstrate to ACMA that it merits consideration for a long-term licence should one be made available in the future,’ Mr Chapman said. ‘However, ACMA has no immediate plans to look again at allocating a long-term community broadcasting licence for Young.’

Young District Arts Council is a new aspirant community broadcaster which will now have the opportunity to develop the range of operational, programming and other skills necessary to successfully operate a community broadcasting service and to build community support for their service.

The Shooting Star Picture Company has announced record numbers in system activity for the Play MPE® digital delivery system worldwide compared to the same period last year. The commencement of trials of the Australian Play MPE® service with Australian Record labels Universal, EMI, Warner, Shock, Inertia and MGM have added to these figures as the system further cements itself as the worldwide industry standard for digital delivery and proving to be the preferred system of choice for broadcasters and record labels globally.

Play MPE® posted dramatic growth over 2007 and continues to lead the industry with the adoption of digital delivery. Record numbers across the board includes a 135% increase in downloads, streams, burns and exports totaling almost 6 million in activity. Users jumped over 52% to 21,476 installed and tracks in the system exploded to almost 87,000 representing an increase of 80% compared to June 2007.

Play MPE® has recently signed exclusive agreements with parent groups Universal Music Group and EMI Music Group in the U.S. and every other major label including Warner Music Group and SONY BMG are already using the Play MPE® system, solidifying Play MPE® as the only digital delivery system that can provide one central service for all major labels and all releases.

"Play MPE® continues to widen the gap over any other digital delivery system and sets the benchmark in the industry. Worldwide it has the highest adoptions, installations and activity therefore confirming it's place as the industry standard. This incredible growth proves that with the launch of Play MPE® in Australia this July we will locally come into step with the world’s leading digital delivery system," stated Shooting Star’s Peter Skillman.

Melboure's ABC 774 will have two former Vega presenters on air from next Monday ( Wendy Harmer and Beverly O'Connor) to fill in for holidays. Wendy Harmer will cover breakfast for Red Symons for two weeks. Beverly O'Connor will fill in for Lindy Burns on drive. Also stepping in will be Alan Brough doing afternoons for Richard Stubbs .

Tabcorp today announced that Gerard Patane had been appointed the Head of Media Operations for Sky Channel and 2KY. Mr Patane will report to the Head of Tabcorp's Media division, Brendan Parnell and commences his new role on 30 June.

Australian Idol co-host, Andrew G, who also hosts Australia’s biggest weekly radio countdown, “Take 40 Australia”, will MC this year’s Australian Commercial Radio Awards (ACRAs), which will be held at Conrad Jupiters on the Gold Coast on October 11.Andrew G, began his career in radio at B105 in Brisbane and then SAFM in Adelaide, before moving to television with Channel V.

This year is the 20th year of the ACRAs, which has become a highlight of the radio industry’s annual calendar and attracts radio personalities and stars from around Australia.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said there had been a strong response to this year’s event, with the most popular categories including Best On-Air Team and Best News Presenter as well as Best Station Produced Comedy Segment.

“Entries have increased across all major networks compared to last year with considerable growth in the number of entries for Best Music Special and Best Show Producer – Entertainment and Music – a new category introduced last year,” Ms Warner said.

Organised by Commercial Radio Australia, on behalf of the radio industry, the national Awards include 32 categories, which cover all areas of radio broadcasting including news, talk, sport, music and entertainment. The ACRAs differ from television’s Logie Awards, in that they are peer judged with judging panels comprised of industry members. Winners are announced in each category across three areas: metropolitan, provincial and country commercial radio stations.

This year there is one new category – Best Multimedia Execution, which has been introduced to recognise innovative multimedia campaigns which involve listeners, using a website and podcasts, mobile phones or other multimedia applications.

Winners from last year’s Awards include well-known radio personalities, 2DayFM’s Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O; Neil Mitchell from Melbourne’s 3AW morning program; Dylan Lewis from Nova in Melbourne and Jabba from NOVA 969 in Sydney.

The Gold Coast is always well-represented at the Awards with seven national awards (provincial) won by Gold Coast radio stations last year.

Ms Warner said a feature of the Awards is the Hall of Fame, which acknowledges a lifelong commitment to the Australian radio industry. Last year, two industry giants, Neil Mitchell from Melbourne’s 3AW and Greg Smith, a pioneer of FM Radio, were inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.Other previous inductees have included Frank Hyde, Rod Muir, John Laws, Bob Rogers and Paul Thompson. Hall of Fame recipients are nominated by industry colleagues and decided by a high level judging committee. [/html]

Bianca Dye will head back to Sydney after a 3 week stint on Gold Coast breakfast radio at Hot Tomato FM. Bianca has had numerous job offers in Sydney and although details of those offers can't be revealed there are whispers of a return to Sydney radio very soon.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Macarthur Community Radio Association Inc, the licensee of community radio service 2MCR Campbelltown, breached the Community Broadcasting Codes of Practice 2002 in the way it handled a complaint.

Following a complaint in December 2007, ACMA’s investigation found that the licensee of 2MCR breached clause 7.4(b) of the code, in that it did not ensure the complaint was conscientiously considered and investigated.

ACMA also found that the licensee of 2MCR breached clause 7.4(c) of the code, as it did not include a copy of the code with its response to the complaint.

2MCR also breached clause 7.4(d) of the code, in that it did not advise the complainant that he had the right to refer his complaint to ACMA if he was dissatisfied with the response.

As the licensee has acknowledged the breaches and had not breached the relevant code provisions in the last two years, ACMA will not be taking further action on this occasion.

Gay rights activist Gary Burns will go to air on the Sydney radio network he became famous for suing after an announcer used the term "pillow-biter".

In an out-of-court settlement between Mr Burns and radio station 2UE last week, the network agreed to apologise for vilifying homosexuals during an on-air conversation between high profile presenters John Laws and Steve Price.

Radio 2UE, Mr Laws and Mr Price originally appealed a 2004 NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal finding they vilified homosexuals during on-air exchanges in 2003 regarding gay renovators Waz and Gav from the Nine Network television show The Block.Read the entire article

George Buschman has quit the Pacific Star Network SEN/3MP board and he will be replaced by Gary Pert. Pert is the former General Manager of Austereo in Melbourne as well as a former AFL footballer having played for Collingwood and Fitzroy. With his passion for AFL and radio Pert will be a valuable assett to the stations. 1116 SEN are in their second year of live AFL coverage.

3AW's Derryn Hinch returned from his two week break today and opened his program with an editorial attacking the celebrity status attained by Melbourne underworld figures. Those who he attacked included Mick Gatto, who happened to be listening and was quick to jump on the phone and return fire.

"You are scum, and I tell you what, I have a punching bag at home with your name on it and I punch the shit out of it," Gatto told Hinch.

Hinch hit back.

"If burning you is my job in life, I'll be more than happy to do it. I think you and all your ilk and all your mob and the Carlton Crew and the Carl Williamses of this world, you are all scum."

The verbal jousting lasted several minutes and included this exchange:

Gatto: "It's ratbags like you that sort of put me in the limelight, where I want to be left alone and mind my own businesses but I can't because I've got maggots like you driving me mad".

Hinch: "Do you know what? If I could go to my grave being called a maggot by a person like Mick Gatto, boy I'm proud of myself".

Gatto: "Well, I hope you go to your grave very quick, mate".

Hinch: "Yeah?"

Gatto: "That's where you deserve to be because you are a maggot".

Hinch: "You live in that world where people go to their graves. You ... you ... you live in that world where people go to their graves quickly. Don't you?"

Gatto: "Well, you'll be one of them. You'll be one of them very soon, mate".

Hinch last year admitted he was suffering a life-threatening condition, advanced cirrhosis of the liver, combined with a benign liver tumour.

Gatto, who describes himself as an industrial negotiator, was acquitted on a charge of murder following the death of underworld henchman Andrew "Benji" Veniamin at the back of a Carlton restaurant on March 23, 2004.

Think about the street in which you live or another Australian street that you love, hate or are fascinated by. Then think about telling the stories that belong on that street in words, pictures, video or sound - the choice is yours. The possibilities are tantalising.

ABC Radio National’s Street Stories program wants to bring the stories of our streets together through My Street. My Street is a new multimedia project that will enable stories to be shared by everyone, no matter where they are in Australia, at abc.net.au/rn/mystreet <http://abc.net.au/rn/mystreet> .

Share a story from your street with My Street, from 22 June, and the best entry will win the chance to work with the Street Stories team to produce a radio documentary about your street, or another mutually agreed topic.

.All entries will be available to view on the My Street website as soon as they are uploaded. The competition closes on 7 November 2008.

Your story may also be broadcast on ABC Radio National. A selection of the best stories will be featured on Street Stories once a month, throughout the competition period.

Your story needs to be told in no more than seven minutes using video, audio, images or up to 700 words of text. You can record it on your mobile phone, an MP3 player, a video or digital camera. Or you could submit an animation, a story, a photo montage – the choice is yours.

ABC Radio National's Street Stories is a weekly half-hour program devoted to social documentaries. You'll hear stories and experiences from across Australia and around the globe. Come with us into the places where lives are lived; lounge rooms, pubs, offices - even caves - to hear tales of the ordinary and the extraordinary. Street Stories can be heard every Sunday at 1.30pm (repeat 8pm) or as audio on demand and podcast at abc.net.au/rn/streetstories <http://abc.net.au/rn/streetstories> .

For everything you need to know about My Street and to view entries, visit abc.net.au/rn/mystreet <http://abc.net.au/rn/mystreet> from Sunday 22 June.[[b]Submitted by James[/b]]

Veteran Newcastle radio man Keith Ashton passed away suddenly on Friday 21st June 2008. Keith who started in radio at 2KO in 1953 packed a lifetime into the industry and is often referred to as the father of Narrowcast Broadcasting in Australia.

Red Harrison, former anchor of ABC radio's AM program during one of its most influential periods in the early 1980s when it was also broadcast on 2JJ, died yesterday after a long illness. He was 75.Born Arthur Lesley Harrison, Red started in radio as a cadet with the ABC in the 1950s, before moving to newspapers with stints as editor in Sydney and Perth later becoming the local radio correspondent for the BBC.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has released the Community Broadcasting Sponsorship Guidelines 2008 (the sponsorship guidelines) to replace 2003 guidelines issued by the Australian Broadcasting Authority.

‘The sponsorship guidelines will assist community broadcasting licensees to understand their obligations in relation to the restrictions on advertising and the requirements for sponsorship announcements,’ said Chris Chapman, ACMA Chairman.

Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act), all community broadcasting licences are subject to a licence condition that prevents them from broadcasting advertisements

However, community broadcasting licensees may broadcast a range of announcements and other promotional material which the Act does not regard as advertisements.

For example, licensees may broadcast sponsorship announcements as long as they meet requirements for ‘tagging’ and hourly sponsorship limits (five minutes for radio and seven minutes for television).

Release of the guidelines accords with a recommendation of the House of Representatives Standing Committee on Communications, Information Technology and the Arts inquiry into community broadcasting that ACMA update the sponsorship guidelines by 30 June 2008.

The new guidelines are available [link=http://www.acma.gov.au/WEB/STANDARD/pc=PC_311062#sponsorship]here[/link]

Tenterfield community radio station 2 Ten Fm is in real danger of having to cease operation Tenterfield and District Community FM Radio Association president Marion Saxby warned in a letter to the Tenterfield Shire Council recently.The letter, appealing for financial assistance to meet $14,000 debt, was tabled at the council’s Finance and Policy Committee meeting on Wednesday last week. FULL STORY

Federal Arts Minister Peter Garrett has announced the National Film and Sound Archive 'Sounds of Australia' 2008 additions today as part of Sound Day, a series of special events to celebrate Australian recorded sound.

It's struggle street for Alan JonesSydney Morning Herald, Australia -The soft figures will add fuel to rumours that Jones has lost his passion for radio and is considering a reduced workload next year. ...

Nova dominates radio ratingsCourier Mail, Australia -NOVA has emerged as the clear winner in Brisbane's radio ratings, dominating most timeslots and snatching two crucial slots from rival Triple M. Nova ...

Media release: The search for new and emerging Australian music talent by the radio industry is on again with entries now open for the New Artist to Radio (NA2R) event, to be held at the Gold Coast on October 10.

The commercial radio industry initiative aims to discover the next big music star to be played on commercial radio throughout the country and is now in its seventh year. The event is open to unsigned Australian artists who have not charted in the top 100 Australian National airplay chart.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said the initiative was one of the main ways in which the commercial radio sector helped nurture and support Australian musical talent.

“This is an industry-wide initiative which has helped launched some very successful music careers since its inception including artists like Delta Goodrem, Kid Courageous, Sarah Blasko, Thirsty Merc, Jade Macrae and the Sunpilots,” Ms Warner said.

Three winners are chosen – one each from three genres: rock, pop and adult contemporary. The three winners will perform at the NA2R event at the Gold Coast in front of key people from the commercial radio sector.

All the finalists also attend a workshop by leading radio program directors and music marketing experts about how to maximize radio airplay and exposure – a popular feature of the event aimed at helping artists.

The winners of the event will also share in $150,000 worth of advertising airtime on four of the major commercial radio networks: Australian Radio Network, Austereo, DMG Radio and Macquarie Southern Cross Media. In addition, the four networks will choose a genre winner to add to their network play list for early 2009.

Two new elements have been added for the winners this year. They are:

• MGM Distribution (MGM) will provide distribution for the winner in each category including digital online sales via ITunes. Each single will be submitted to ARIA for inclusion in the ARIA single chart survey.

• VGM Media and Marketing (VGM) will design the single cover and CD art for distribution. VGM will also provide the winners in each genre with advice regarding media and direction in relation to tracking each song at radio to ensure maximum exposure.

Ms Warner welcomed the new partnerships with MGM Distribution and VGM Media and Marketing.

“Unearthing new Australian music talent has always been one of the key roles played by commercial radio and the additional benefits provided to NA2R winners this year will help increase their chance of success and exposure – all very positive outcomes,” Ms Warner said.

NA2R entry packs can be downloaded from www.myspace.com/newartists2radio with the social interactive website supporting the event for the third year in a row.

Or people can enter at www.na2r.com.au allowing bands to upload their MP3 tracks and complete the details online. Entries will be accepted until July 18.

Submissions will be judged by a panel of commercial radio network program and music directors, based on their commercial radio play potential, and also with input from radio station listeners and MySpace members

Media release: The 2008 Sirens winner, an advertisement for RACV Financial Services called “Disclaimer”, written by Paul Reardon and Julian Schreiber from Clemenger BBDO in Melbourne, has been shortlisted for the Radio Lions at the Cannes Advertising Festival overnight.

The RACV ad is one of three 2008 Sirens finalists and winners that have made it to the radio shortlist in Cannes this year. The other two ads are “Police Radio”, written by Belgiovane Williams Mackay, Sydney for Working Against Culpable Driving, and "Do I sound different?", written by Leo Burnett Melbourne for SCOPE.

Chief executive officer of Commercial Radio Australia, Joan Warner said this was the second year in a row that the Sirens winning ad had made it to the shortlist with last year’s winner eventually taking out the Grand Prix Radio Lions.

“This is great news for the Australian radio industry which has been working hard to ensure both the quality and creativity of radio ads have improved over the past few years. International recognition, like making the shortlist at Cannes, is proof that these efforts are reaping rewards,” Ms Warner said.

“It is also pleasing that one of the ads for the Commercial Radio Australia brand campaign, “Small Market” written by Eardrum Sydney is also on the shortlist. To be recognized internationally by some of the best creative minds in the world is a fantastic achievement,” Ms Warner said.

The shortlisted Australian ads are: (listed by agency, client and title)

Survey 4 of the Nielsen radio ratings have delivered clear wins to Fiveaa, Nova106.9, 3AW, 2GB and 94.5

In the case of Fiveaa their evenings jumped from 21.4 to 23.4 an increase of 2.0. Nova 106.9, clearly the strongest Nova station in the nation had a good rise in drive of 2.7, up from 15.3 to 18.0. 3AW breakfast continues to blitz everything in its path delivering 20.1 up 2.9 from 17.2. In Sydney 2GB are still leading however one good survey for 2DAY FM or ABC702 will see a tight battle in the Harbour city. Perth has seen Mix 94.5 come out on top despite small falls in most daytime programs.

AFTER creating country music station Geelong Country three years ago, Greg Parkinson has introduced Australia to Hot Country. Parkinson, the creator and music director of the station, says he has been shocked with the success of the project so far."People who don't like country music automatically assume no one else does as well," he said. "But the response has been overwhelming." More Geelong Adveriser

Media release: The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that SWRFM Community Media Association, the licensee of 2SWR Blacktown, breached a condition of its licence by broadcasting an advertisement.

ACMA’s investigation found that during a broadcast of one of its ethnic programs, 2SWR Blacktown broadcast an advertisement. The station failed to appropriately ‘tag’ the advertisement and therefore it could not be considered a sponsorship announcement under the Act.

The investigation did note that 2SWR Blacktown has already made improvements to its policies and procedures, including prohibiting presenters from interviewing sponsors on air. 2SWR Blacktown has advised all current presenters of the new policies and procedures.

ACMA is satisfied with 2SWR Blacktown’s initiatives and considered that it has taken reasonable steps to ensure that it does not breach the licence condition prohibiting the broadcasting of advertisements.

ACMA’s investigation followed a complaint received on 9 September 2007 that 2SWR Blacktown had broadcast an advertisement during its Punjabi Show.

FORMER Big Brother host Gretel Killeen refuses to watch the current series and refuses to comment on its poor ratings.Killeen, who was interviewed by Sonia Kruger and Todd McKenney on Sydney's Mix 106.5, said it was a conscious decision to distance herself from Big Brother as she didn't want compare this year's series with the previous seven she hosted. Full story CourierMail

Her hubby is the one usually in the spotlight but Stacey Pallaras is quietly carving out her own career. The mum-of-two and wife of Director of Public Prosecutions Stephen Pallaras (no, they're not related to local shoe designer Mary-Kyri Pallaras featured elsewhere in this sectiobn), has been appointed station manager at FreshFM. "It's exciting," Stacey said. "I come from a community radio background in WA and I did a brief stint on Radio Adelaide." Full story AdelaideNow

He is known for being the bad-boy of radio and what one radio insider described as limbo radio (morally how low can you go).The 37 year old has been warned by his doctor to cut out the junk food and lose at least 10kg, or being nationally hated by many won't be the biggest of his problems. Kyle has described himself as an everyday tablet man who thrives on caffeine, he recently admitted to drinking up to 8 litres of Coca Cola a day. However, despite his health crisis, the radio-turned-television personality says he wont be relinquishing his bad-boy image. Sandilands has been off the 2DAY FM airwavess after contracting pneumonia while overseas.

4BC drive presenter John Miller will step down from the role from June 27. He will be replaced by Michael P Smith and the new presenter will extend drive by 1 hour to a 3 hour format.John Miller who has been with 4BC for around 15 years will continue to be involved with the station and will be back on air in October presenting weekend afternoons.

We inducted John Laws into the Hall of Fame around five years ago, the 3AK Hall of Fame, however the retired broadcaster will be inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame will to be held on Monday July 1 at the Melbourne Town Hall. Laws will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award from ARIA for his contribution to the Australian Music Industry. Full story

The return of Phil O'Neil to Triple M has sparked talk he is set to take the place of the station's feuding early morning stars and ratings flops The Shebang.

Returning to the Austereo fold this week, as a fill-in for the rock station's drive timeslot, O'Neil is widely regarded as a likely replacement for the warring crew of Fifi Box, Paul Murray and Marty Sheargold. Full story

Claims that entertainer Don Lane has advanced dementia have been denied by his manager Jayne Ambrose. Speaking in response to an announcement made by Don's close friend. 2UE's Chris Kearns, Ambrose said 'yes he's recently been moved to the care facility, however reports of his dementia given on 2UE are inaccurate.' Hear the 2UE announcement here.

Don Lane is best known for his work on the hugely successful Don Lane Show, which ran on the Nine Network from the mid 1970s until 1983

Although many think of television when you say the name Don Lane he has dabbled in radio over the years including stints at 3UZ, 2UE AND 3AK. Don was at 2UE in the mid 1980's in the days of the failed 3AK-2UE City Between Cities radio. Lane also did breakfast radio in the 1970's at 3UZ and shared a half radio hour spot with Bert Newton each day prior to Bert's 'UZ morning Show.

2UE was forced to evacuate their studios just before 3.00pm this afternoon due to a fire in the building that houses the radio station. Weekend breakfast presenter Don Burke, currently filling in for Tim Webster on the afternoon program, announced that "smoke was billowing" through the building and they would be going to music until further notice. It forced the station to drop their 3.00pm news replaced by the old perennial in times of crisis, Macarthur Park all 7 plus minutes of it. Drive presenter John Stanley returned the station to air just after 3.10pm.

Further to our item earlier today, Fairfax Media have this morning launched WAtoday, an online Newspaper site for Western Australia. The site features a broad coverage of news from WA and around the globe. Sister stations 96fm and 6PR will play a pivotal role in the foundation of the site and are featured with live streaming. 6PR had previously been a feature of the News Limited site PerthNow however it was replaced by Perth's Nova FM some months ago. Check out WAtoday

With some radio presenters taking a mid-year break many listeners woke to find a different voice or two serving up breakfast radio. For some of the talent it is a chance to peddle their wares to see if they can get back on the circuit, while others who have been champing at the bit to get on air may find two weeks is all the listeners (and programmers) can take. Are best of highlights wearing thin? Heard any shockers that have forced you to change stations? Or are you happy with the fill in?

The pattern for many stations now is to have a regular fill in presenter for each program. Such is the case for Alan Jones at 2GB where Jason Morrison holds the fort or Denis Walter who slides into 3AW's Ernie Sigley program.

Something different this time around at 2UE, George Moore & Paul B. Kidd are filling in for Mike & Sandy on breakfast and Don Burke is in for Tim Webster on afternoons. Let us know who has popped up on the dial.

Here are the latest radio news cuts from Media UK .There are 11 new items today.

Ocean FM breach formatFrom Radio Today. Posted June 9 2008, 11.26amOfcom have found Ocean FM in breach of its format for the second time in eight months.Despite the formal breach, which the regulators considered "at odds with the core format promise" and "failing to fulfill the spirit of the station licence", the station has not been penalised. (more)

My Life In Media: Sammy JacobFrom The Independent. Posted June 9 2008, 12.00amSammy Jacob, 44, is managing director of NME Radio, which launches later this month, though you can listen to a pre-launch show presented by Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant and Karl Pilkington from today. (more)

GMTV Team Makes Two AppointmentsFrom allmediascotland - Spike. Posted June 9 2008, 7.53amA journalist recently with Edinburgh-based radio station, talk107, has become one of two, new recruits at the company providing Scottish output for GMTV. Elspeth Badger - pictured, second from right - joins as a video journalist after being with talk107 since February last year. ... (more)

Debbie McGee joins BBC localFrom Radio Today. Posted June 9 2008, 9.13amDebbie McGee, celebrity wife of Paul Daniels has joined BBC Radio Berkshire on a permanent basis to host a new Sunday morning show, from 9am till midday. (more)

JACK continues Oxford dealFrom Radio Today. Posted June 9 2008, 9.01amThe team at JACK fm are extending their commentary deal with Oxford United for another year. The station will also continue to sponsor the back of the home and away kits. (more)

Theakston and Ferrari re-signFrom Radio Today. Posted June 9 2008, 9.08amGlobal Radio has shown commitment to two of its London breakfast presenters - Jamie Theakston and Nick Ferrari by contracting them to a further three years.Jamie will continue his show on Heart 106.2, which he has hosted since 2005, whilst Nick Ferrari will continue on LBC 97. (more)

Rwandans are hooked on Africa's AmblesideFrom The Independent. Posted June 9 2008, 12.00amT wice a week Rwanda comes to a standstill. Every Tuesday and Thursday evening at sundown, from the dusty, bustling streets of Kigali to the jungle-clad villages perched on volcano slopes, residents huddle around the nearest radio, sometimes 20 to a set. Anticipation mounts until, at 6. (more)

Fairfax Media are set to announce the arrival of their WAtoday news website today when chief executive David Kirk delivers his speech to the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia lunch in Perth. His speech will be on media in the 21st century.

Fairfax has no daily print pressence in Perth however they own two radio stations, 6PR and 96fm and it is believed these will both be heavily cross promoted on the new news interactive website.Perth's only daily newspaper is 'The West Australian' owned by WAN and then there is News Limited who have an established on-line 'paper' which is PerthNow.

There are some veteran radio names amongst this years Queens Birthday Honours including Don Kinsey - Member (AM) of the Order of Australia , Margaret Christensen - Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia and Reg Grundy - a Companion of the Order of Australia . In all radio has played a pivotal role in the early parts of their respective careers. Don Kinsey was a part of the fabric of 3DB from the late 1950's until 1976 when he became public affairs director with the Royal Children's Hospital, a role he held until to 1996.

Reg Grundy, a one-time boxer who early in a long career went on to become a radio sports commentator. He built a television production empire and at one stage owned a large parcel of regional radio stations and has made an outstanding contribution through the television industry and promotion of Australia overseas.

Margaret Christensen started in radio in Brisbane at the age of 18 with her very own show "I gave girls advice about make-up and that sort of thing," Christensen said. "Radio was a very big industry then.". Christensen also acted on stage in Australia and England, including Funny Girl and Fiddler on the Roof; with film roles including Smiley and Babe: Pig in the City.

Media release: The audience potential for Australia’s famed Take 40 Chart® has leaped by more than a million following a strategic partnership between mcm entertainment and News Limited’s digital flagship, NEWS.com.au.

The partnership will enable visitors to NEWS.com.au’s entertainment pages to enjoy the latest audio and video music tracks from mcm’s weekly Take 40 Chart, pre-programmed playlists and access to the Take 40 tracks from the past 25 years – all free.

Take 40 content will now be available beyond its own website, signaling a shift in mcm’s digital strategy that takes its high-quality audio and video portfolio across the web in partnership with major media and content companies, who are keen to offer consumers rich streaming content. This will continue to widen mcm’s audience reach, thereby increasing the appeal to advertisers.

NEWS.com.au publisher Sigrid Kirk said: “The Take 40 Australia brand is synonymous with music in this country, with most people growing up listening to the countdown on radio each Sunday. Take 40 is the leading digital streaming music brand in Australia and we are proud to be the only news, information and entertainment site in Australia to offer the music video and audio track functionality to its users.”

At the super bandwidth settings*, the Take 40 Music Player on www.NEWS.com.au offers near-DVD quality videos and significantly higher audio quality than standard iTunes downloads and other rival music sites here and abroad.

mcm’s Digital Sales Manager, Paul Blackburn said: “This is good news for advertisers; with such engaging, rich content and the added reach of News.com.au it means advertising messages will have greater impact and efficiencies. We will be offering unique targeting mechanics via specific artists, genres and themes that will ensure display or TVC placements work harder for the client.”

Simon Joyce, National Sales Director, said the new partnership will dramatically increase the scale of mcm’s digital media offering. “Whether it’s within our own sites or across our growing network of online channels, mcm continues to provide superior quality, targeted advertising environments for our clients.”

FOREIGN correspondent Peter Lloyd and Lateline co-host Virginia Trioli will anchor the ABC's ambitious Breakfast TV news program starting on ABC2 in September. Broadcast from Melbourne, Breakfast will have a dedicated Canberra political correspondent as well as access to all the other journalists for breaking news.

Cameras will be installed in dozens of ABC radio studios across the country to film live interviews with politicians. Related article [link=http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,23817905-2,00.html]here.[/link]

The Australian Communications and Media Authority has found that Ballarat Community FM Radio Co-operative Limited, the licensee of Ballarat community broadcasting service 99.9 Voice FM, breached a condition of its licence by broadcasting advertisements.

Community radio stations may broadcast up to five minutes of sponsorship announcements in any hour. Under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992, a sponsorship announcement on community radio that promotes the sponsor’s business must include an appropriate acknowledgement of financial support (a ‘tag’), otherwise it will be considered an advertisement.

Following a complaint in February 2008, ACMA’s investigation found that Voice FM broadcast an advertisement on 5 February 2008 because promotional material played during the ‘Lifestyle Program’ did not include a ‘tag’.

As ACMA is satisfied that the licensee has put in place adequate measures to ensure there are no further breaches of the sponsorship rules, no action is proposed at this time.

A copy of investigation report #1975 is available on the ACMA website.

BackgrounderACMA conducts various types of investigations under the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 (the Act). Investigations under Part 11 of the Act are conducted in response to complaints received by ACMA relating to a possible breach by:

a licensed broadcaster of the Act, the regulations, a licence condition, a class licence or a code of practice; orthe ABC or SBS of a code of practice.If a person wishes to complain about something of concern they have seen or heard on a program broadcast by a radio or TV station, and the matter is covered by a code of practice, the person must, by law, first make a written complaint to the station.

However, if a complaint relates to a matter covered by a licence condition, the person can complain directly to ACMA and need not complain to the station first.

There is a different code of practice for each broadcasting sector, and each code of practice contains a section that explains the complaints process that applies to that sector.

As some codes impose time limits for complaints, it is advisable that people who wish to make a complaint write to the radio or TV station as soon as possible. For instance, the code of practice that applies to commercial television broadcasters enables them to decide to not respond in writing to complaints that are made more than 30 days after the date of broadcast.

When making a complaint to ACMA, people must provide a copy of their complaint to the station, a copy of the station’s reply if this has been received, and any other relevant correspondence with the station. ACMA takes all complaints seriously (except for those that are frivolous or vexatious or not made in good faith) and acknowledges all complaints in writing.

For valid complaints, ACMA considers the information provided and offers the relevant station an opportunity to provide its perspectives. When all relevant information is available, ACMA assesses the complaint against the relevant licence condition or code of practice.

When an investigation is completed, ACMA is required to notify a complainant of the results of an investigation under Part 11 of the Act. The form this notification is to take is not specified in the Act – it might be in the form of a letter or, alternatively, it could be in the form of a more formal investigation report which is provided to both the complainant and the licensee concerned.

Generally, personal or private information provided in a complaint, including name and address details, are not disclosed to the licensee concerned if it is a licence condition matter. However, as code complaints are first made to a licensee, code complaints are usually made available to the licensee concerned. ACMA’s usual practice is to not provide personal or private information in an investigation report.

Under the Act, ACMA has a discretion whether or not to publish the report of an investigation conducted under Part 11 of the Act. ACMA's usual practice is to publish such reports. However, ACMA is not required to publish an investigation report if publication would disclose matter of a confidential character or likely to prejudice the fair trial of a person. If ACMA intends to publish an investigation report that may adversely affect the interests of a person, ACMA must give the person an opportunity to make representations in relation to the matter.

Rod and The Flack have been axed from 96FM nights with the duo finishing up last Friday. (30th May) The pair moved to Perth at the start of this year and after just 7 weeks on 96FM breakfast were replaced by veteran Gary Shannon and co. This decision at the time reportedly resulted in the resignation of PD Brad McNally and two breakfast producers. After debuting on nights in late March they were looking forward to delivering a true alternative to Perth night time radio, sadly no more.

From this coming Monday (June 9) many stations will be giving their stars two weeks off and in most cases we will be offered the regular fill in presenters. The Austereo Today network has put together an unlikely trio to cover breakfast across a number of their stations. Singer Brian McFadden, tv star Michala Banas and SAFM's Andrew 'Cosi' Costello will come together for two weeks while your regular Today Network breakfast presenters hit the snooze button!

AS host of Australia's only gay commercial radio program, Dan Watson often takes confession from listeners. "They ring up and go, 'Mate, I'm from Frankston, I'm heterosexual — but I love your show'," he says. "They just need to get it off their chest."

Watson estimates 80% of his listeners are straight. Why? Perhaps it's because The Stick Shift, which airs Sundays at 8pm on NovaFM, is a "fun" show. Read the entire article [link=http://www.theage.com.au/news/tv--radio/gay-show-redblooded/2008/06/04/1212258891353.html] here[/link]

Radio station 105.7 The River launched its annual appeal at the Albury Base Hospital yesterday.Breakfast hosts Greg Allan and Mel Little said they hoped to raise more than $25,000 so the station can buy new equipment for the children’s ward.“We need $25,000 to buy surgical equipment that allows surgeons to do key-hole surgery right here in Albury,” Allan said. [link=http://bordermail.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/high-hopes-for-kids-appeal/781662.aspx]Full story Border Mail[/link]

Triple M breaky co-host and Channel 9's stand-in weather girl Sami Lukis has been voted the sexiest woman on radio in a couriermail.com.au poll.Lukis, who returned to Brisbane from Sydney this year to join The Cage with Ian Skippen, Sully and Marto, snared a quarter of the 1300-plus votes in the poll. [link=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23808531-7642,00.html]Full story here CourierMail[/link]

Rob McCasker has threatened 102.9 Hot Tomato with a wrongful dismissal suit. Breakfast announcer and station program director Rob McCasker was sacked by email last month and his belongings delivered to his Coomera Waters home on the Gold Coast after the station alleged he breached confidentiality and spoke of the pending departure of breakfast co-host Renae King to her on air colleagues Luke Bradnam and Kate Carlyle. Related story [link=http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,23804047-5012980,00.html]CourierMail [/link] or [link=http://www.innovistic.typepad.com/]Rob McCasker's blog here[/link]

When Mike Goldman filled in for 2DAY FM's Kyle Sandilands on Sunday nights Big Brother program the producers probably kicked themselves for not giving the gig to Goldman at the start of the 2008 series.Goldman knows the Big Brother formula inside out and has the ability to connect to the audience, studio and viewers alike. Sandilands is on the sick list this week and is also away from his 2DAY FM breakfast show.

Virgini Radio has been sold to to the parent company of Times of India newspaper The $106 million dollar deal will transfer the national AM license and FM London license to Bennett, Coleman & Co. but the "Virgin" brand name is not part of the deal.The new owner of the licenses can use the "Virgin" name for 90 days then has to assume a new identity for them. If Bennet, Coleman & Co. decide in the next two years it would like to use the "Virgin" name, it will cost another $16 million for the rights.

Fairfax media is looking to bundle advertising packages together to reach a better mix of their radio, online and print customers.Mr Mott said Fairfax Radio would this week announce a new full-time national ad sales head -- the first time it had done so -- in part to capitalise on bundling opportunities.

"In the new modern media, bundling comes into play," Mr Mott said. "You need someone to champion it. If we can cross-promote between the three of them (radio, print and online), and provide an environment for advertisers to extend their reach, we've got the market well covered."

Mr Mott is particularly taken with potential advertising synergies between Fairfax's radio and digital operations.

"For the talk radio listener, the radio station is breaking news. For those who do not listen to talk radio, online is the news-breaker."Source The Australian

3AW's Derryn Hinch held a NAME THEM AND SHAME THEM rally on the steps of Victoria's Parliment House yesterday where he publicly named a serial pedophile who has been released into the community after completing his parole period. Hinch named the pedophile and the crowd of around a 1000 repeated the mans name. A County Court judge ruled that, as is the case with other sex offenders, the man's name should be suppressed in the interests of his rehabilitation.

Hinch was jailed for 12 days in 1987 after revealing on his radio show the past convictions of a pedophile priest, Father Michael Glennon, despite knowing that Glennon was still to face court over other offences.